Your first week in Prague: what to do, in order

The clock starts when you land

If you are a non-EU citizen arriving on a long-term visa or with a residence permit on the way, two deadlines usually start the moment you arrive. Both are counted in working days, which means weekends and Czech public holidays do not count.

• Register your address with the Foreign Police, usually within 3 working days.
• Give your fingerprints and photo at the Ministry of the Interior for your residence card, if your visa or letter tells you to, often within the same window.

Missing either can mean a fine, and can cause trouble with your permit later. Everything else in your first week is about making your life easier.

EU citizens: you need no visa, permit or fingerprints. If you stay longer than 30 days, you register your address within 30 days of arriving, and that is your only legal deadline.

Day one

Before anything official, sort the basics that every office will ask for.

• Keep your passport, visa and the proof of accommodation form together. You will need them several times this week.
• Ask your landlord or hotel whether they have already reported your address. Hotels usually do. Private landlords usually do not.
• Check the letter or visa sticker for your fingerprint appointment, and whether you need to book or can walk in.

Register your address

Non-EU citizens have to tell the Foreign Police where they live. In Prague, most people go to the Foreign Police office in Prague 3. Go on a weekday morning, and expect a queue.

When	Usually within 3 working days of arriving
Where	Foreign Police, Olšanská 2, Prague 3
Bring	Passport, proof of accommodation
Cost	Free

Keep the stamped confirmation with your passport. Our Foreign Police guide walks through the visit, with the Czech you will need.

Give your fingerprints

If your visa was issued so you can collect a residence card, you visit the Ministry of the Interior (OAMP) to give fingerprints, a photo and a signature. They then make your card, which you collect a few weeks later.

• Check your letter or visa for the deadline and whether you need a booking.
• Bring your passport, passport photos and proof of accommodation.
• Note the date they give you to collect the card. It becomes your ID from then on.

Most staff speak little English. The Say It foreign police pack has the lines for this visit, including a walk-through of collecting your card.

A Czech phone number

Banks, landlords, doctors and offices all want a Czech number. A prepaid SIM or eSIM from any of the big three networks takes 15 minutes. Keep your home number active for bank security codes until you have moved your accounts.

A transport pass

Prague's trams, metro and buses are excellent, and ticket checks are frequent. Load a monthly pass in the Lítačka app to start, then switch to a yearly pass once you know you are staying. Always carry it: fines are high, though they drop a lot if you show a valid pass at a customer centre within the stated time.

What can wait

These matter, but they belong to your first month, not your first week:

• Opening a Czech bank account
• Joining public health insurance, if you are employed or self-employed
• A trade licence, if you work for yourself
• Registering with a GP, and a long-term lease

Your first-week checklist

• Passport, visa and proof of accommodation in one folder
• Ask your landlord or hotel about address registration
• Register your address with the Foreign Police
• Give fingerprints for your residence card, if your letter says so
• Czech SIM or eSIM
• Transport pass in the Lítačka app